Royer Family Reunion
Dec 26, 2007 - Jan 2, 2008
St Augustine, FL
We came by air and auto; we came from Houston, Atlanta, and Chapel Hill; we came from Knoxville and Tuscon too, to congregate in St Augustine, home of the family matriarch. Some of us met each other for the first time. We dined on steak, grouper, red snapper, Mexican chili, fajitas, and Daniel's famous noodles; were feted by Naomi at Zaharias Restaurant. We ocean fished, gawked as the alligators chowed down, ghost walked the darkened historic district streets, picnicked in Faver-Dykes State Park, kayaked, played on the beach, and welcomed in the New Year with a fantastic display of fireworks on St Augustine Beach. We topped it off by toasting Naomi's completion of 87 sage years. An active, convivial time was hopefully had by us sixteen all!
Dinner at the Royer-Perkins Bistro, a most exclusive dining experience!
This quilt is Naomi's latest work of fabric art, gifted to Lucy Loren Ellison, now two. The entire quilt is sewn by hand.
One day Lucy will even appreciate it as much as do the rest of us.
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One day eleven of us reserved spots on The Love Boat--or rather the Sea Love Boat--to sail a few miles off shore. Due to Joan's diligence at encouraging us to swallow her special anti-seasick pills, none of us felt that mal de mer. Though we all received plenty of bites, for the most part, the fish eagerly anticipate these visits out to their domain where they enjoy stealing the fisherpersons' bait and having a feast. Corey may have been the only one who caught NO fish at all! Most of those caught had to be thrown back, though Carl and Dave were the winners with the two "keeper" fish--a good sized grouper and an elegant red snapper, which we made short work of that evening.
Then there's my (Nana's) favorite--ye olde Alligator Farm--Jackson's second trip, and Lucy's first. Usually at this time of year the gators are not feeding; but given that we're in the era of Global Warming, things have changed....and they were indeed feeding--voraciously-as you can see below!
Corey, Melissa & Munchkins at the Alligator Farm
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Picnic at Faver-Dykes State Park
The oldest living member of the clan and the youngest...imagine--two people 85 years apart, swinging side by side...wonder how often we see that...
